U.S. patent application number 13/673335 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-16 for medical device and method for displaying medical image using the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Seung Woo SHIN.
Application Number | 20130123603 13/673335 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48281263 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130123603 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHIN; Seung Woo |
May 16, 2013 |
MEDICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING MEDICAL IMAGE USING THE
SAME
Abstract
Disclosed is a medical device which displays an object relating
to an image considered to include an indication relating to a
pathological entity, such as, for example, a lesion, on a terminal
on which a medical image is displayed, and a method for displaying
a medical image by using the same. The medical device includes a
display device, a communication device which communicates with an
external device, and a controller which displays an image which
includes the indication relating to a pathological entity on the
display device when the communication device receives image
information relating to a subject.
Inventors: |
SHIN; Seung Woo; (Yongin-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.; |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
48281263 |
Appl. No.: |
13/673335 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/407 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 6/467 20130101;
A61B 8/463 20130101; A61B 6/463 20130101; A61B 8/565 20130101; A61B
8/467 20130101; A61B 6/465 20130101; A61B 6/548 20130101; A61B
6/563 20130101; A61B 6/466 20130101; A61B 6/566 20130101; A61B
6/5217 20130101; A61B 8/465 20130101; A61B 5/0013 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/407 |
International
Class: |
A61B 6/00 20060101
A61B006/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 15, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0118911 |
Claims
1. A medical device comprising: a display device; a communication
device which communicates with an external device; and a controller
which displays an image which includes an indication relating to a
pathological entity on the display device when the communication
device receives image information relating to a subject.
2. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the controller
displays an object relating to the image which includes the
indication relating to the pathological entity on the display
device.
3. The medical device according to claim 2, wherein the object
comprises at least one of a thumbnail and a shortcut of the image
which includes the indication relating to the pathological
entity.
4. The medical device according to claim 2, wherein the controller
displays the image which includes the indication relating to the
pathological entity in an enlarged form on the display device when
a command relating to the object is received.
5. The medical device according to claim 4, wherein the display
device includes a touch screen, and the command relating to the
object is received via a touch of the object displayed on the
display device.
6. The medical device according to claim 4, wherein the medical
device comprises an input device which includes at least one of a
remote controller, a mouse, a keyboard, a voice recognition device
and a movement recognition device, and the command relating to the
object is received via the input device.
7. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the image which
includes an indication relating to a pathological entity comprises
an image which includes image information relating to a lesion.
8. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the
communication device communicates with at least one of a server,
the internet and a second medical device in order to receive the
image information relating to the subject.
9. A method for displaying a medical image comprising: receiving a
plurality of images relating to a subject; and displaying a first
image which includes an indication relating to a pathological
entity from among the plurality of images relating to the subject
on a medical display device, when the plurality of images relating
to the subject are received.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the displaying the
first image comprises: displaying an object which relates to the
first image on the medical display device; and displaying the first
image in an enlarged form on the medical display device when a
command relating to the object is received.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the command relating
to the object is received via a touch of the object displayed on
the medical display device.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the command relating
to the object is received via at least one of a remote controller,
a mouse, a keyboard, a voice recognition device and a movement
recognition device.
13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the object comprises
at least one of a thumbnail and a shortcut of the first image.
14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the displaying the
first image comprises: displaying images relating to the subject on
the medical display device and displaying at least one record
relating to the first image on the medical display device.
15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the receiving the
plurality of images relating to the subject includes receiving the
plurality of images relating to the subject from at least one of a
server, the internet and a medical device.
16. A medical imaging system comprising: an image acquisition
device which acquires a plurality of images relating to a subject;
and a medical display device which displays a first image which
includes an indication relating to a pathological entity from among
the plurality of images relating to the subject.
17. The medical imaging system according to claim 16, wherein the
medical display device displays an object which relates to the
first image.
18. The medical imaging system according to claim 17, wherein the
object comprises at least one of a thumbnail and a shortcut of the
first image.
19. The medical imaging system according to claim 17, wherein the
medical display device displays the first image in an enlarged form
on the medical display device when a command relating to the object
is received.
20. The medical imaging system according to claim 19, wherein the
command relating to the object is received via a touch of the
object displayed on the medical display device.
21. The medical imaging system according to claim 19, wherein the
command relating to the object is received via at least one of a
remote controller, a mouse, a keyboard, a voice recognition device
and a movement recognition device.
22. The medical imaging system according to claim 16, wherein the
medical display device includes at least one of a computer, a smart
phone and a tablet personal computer (PC).
23. The medical imaging system according to claim 16, wherein the
medical display device displays at least one record relating to the
first image.
24. The medical imaging system according to claim 16, wherein the
first image comprises an image which includes image information
relating to a lesion.
25. The medical imaging system according to claim 16, further
comprising: a server which stores the acquired plurality of images
relating to the subject and which transfers the stored plurality of
images to the medical display device, wherein the server supports a
digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) protocol.
26. The medical imaging system according to claim 16, wherein the
image acquisition device acquires three-dimensional images relating
to the subject.
27. The medical imaging system according to claim 16, wherein each
of the image acquisition device and the medical display device
supports a DICOM protocol.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2011-0118911, filed on Nov. 15, 2011, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Exemplary embodiments relate to a medical device. In
particular, exemplary embodiments relate to a medical device and a
method for displaying a medical image by using the same, in order
to reduce medical image interpretation time required by medical
workers and thereby provide efficient diagnosis.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, clinical diagnosis has an important role in
treatment of patients in medical operations, development of medical
techniques greatly contributes to accurate clinical diagnosis, and
dependence thereon will continue to increase.
[0006] Accordingly, although medical imaging devices, such as
computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and
X-ray devices have become essential in modern medicine, medical
services are often accomplished as a result of an inefficient
process requiring a long time and great labor, in which abnormal
sites of patients are imaged with medical imaging devices, the
images are printed onto films, the films are transferred to an
attending physician of the patients, and the attending physician
finally performs clinical diagnosis. As a consequence of this
inefficiency, physicians have a reduced capacity for providing
rapid and accurate treatment.
[0007] However, in accordance with development of computer and
communications technology, systems for providing medical services
by using computer and data communications technology are currently
being researched and developed in medicine. For example, a medical
imaging system (e.g., a picture archiving communication system:
PACS) wherein a computer communication network is installed
throughout the hospital, all X-ray films are converted into digital
data, the digital data is entered into a database and stored in a
large storage medium which is connected to a server, and an X-ray
image of the target patient is checked at respective medical
offices via a computer monitor has been introduced.
[0008] The medical imaging system (PACS) refers to a general
digital image management and transfer system that acquires medical
images, in particular, radiological diagnostic images, in digital
form, transfers the images via a high-speed communication network,
and diagnoses patients by using an image search device.
[0009] The medical imaging system (PACS) ultimately aims at
constructing a filmless hospital system. For this purpose, it is
necessary that technologies such as image display and processing,
data communication and networking, database management, information
management, user interfaces, data storage and management be
generally constructed.
[0010] Respective devices constituting the PACS transfer and manage
medical images by using a digital imaging and communications in
medicine (DICOM) protocol.
[0011] DICOM refers to a communications protocol that effectively
services communication between CT and MRI devices, as well as
communication between various digital image acquisition devices,
such as nuclear medicine and ultrasound devices, and other
information (data) systems by using an industrial standard
network.
[0012] In conventional technologies, expensive gateways are
required in order to communicate data, or communication is
impossible, because consistent standards are not necessarily used
and methods for storing and communicating data may vary according
to manufacturing companies, or based on the type and the model of
imaging devices being used.
[0013] However, as DICOM standards become settled, devices which
comply with these standards enable data communication, regardless
of manufacturing companies and device types, without using specific
converters. Such data communication is not limited to communication
between DICOM service devices present in the hospital, and
communication with remote sites is also possible.
[0014] Further, network construction has increasingly complied with
standards widely used in the computer industry in recent years, and
DICOM standards are thus readily applicable to communication
relating to all medical image-associated systems, including
communications between sites in the hospital, communications
between remote medical offices, and remote diagnosis systems.
[0015] As such, the DICOM--based medical imaging system provides an
infrastructure which is useful for reducing patient diagnosis time
required by medical workers and for realizing an efficient
diagnosis.
[0016] Further, in accordance with recent technological
development, medical images may be three-dimensionally constructed
and provided. Three-dimensional medical images may improve accuracy
of lesion detection, but also may entail a longer time for
interpretation of medical images and for detection of lesions, due
to an increased amount of data which is provided in such
images.
[0017] When a doctor who performs an initial medical examination
interprets one or more three-dimensional medical images and finds
one or more lesions, this lesion information is input into a
medical imaging system and thus made available for other doctors to
read this information. The other doctors may check diagnosis
results stored by the first doctor, but may inefficiently be
required to interpret the three-dimensional medical images again in
order to check the corresponding lesions from images.
SUMMARY
[0018] Therefore, in one aspect, exemplary embodiments provide a
medical device which displays an object relating to an image
considered to include an indication relating to a pathological
entity, such as, for example, a lesion, on a terminal on which a
medical image is displayed, and a method for displaying a medical
image by using the medical device.
[0019] Additional aspects of the exemplary embodiments will be set
forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will
be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of
the exemplary embodiments.
[0020] In accordance with one aspect of one or more exemplary
embodiments, provided is a medical device including: a display
device; a communication device which communicates with an external
device; and a controller which displays an image which includes an
indication relating to a pathological entity on the display device
when the communication device receives image information relating
to a subject.
[0021] The controller may display an object relating to the image
which includes the indication relating to the pathological entity
on the display device.
[0022] The object may include at least one of a thumbnail and a
shortcut of the image which includes the indication relating to the
pathological entity.
[0023] The controller may display the image which includes the
indication relating to the pathological entity in an enlarged form
on the display device when a command relating to the object is
received.
[0024] The display device may include a touch screen, and the
command relating to the object may be received via a touch of the
object displayed on the display device.
[0025] The medical device may include an input device which
includes at least one of a remote controller, a mouse, a keyboard,
a voice recognition device and a movement recognition device, and
the command relating to the object may be received via the input
device.
[0026] The image which includes the indication relating to the
pathological entity may include an image which includes image
information relating to a lesion.
[0027] The communication device may communicate with at least one
of a server, the internet and a second medical device in order to
receive the image information relating to the subject.
[0028] In accordance with another aspect, one or more exemplary
embodiments provide a method for displaying a medical image
including: receiving a plurality of images relating to a subject;
and displaying a first image which includes an indication relating
to a pathological entity from among the plurality of images
relating to the subject on a medical display device, when the
plurality of images relating to the subject are received.
[0029] The displaying the first image may include: displaying an
object which relates to the first image on the medical display
device; and displaying the first image in an enlarged form on the
medical display device when a command relating to the object is
received.
[0030] The command relating to the object may be received via a
touch of the object displayed on the medical display device.
[0031] The command relating to the object may be received via at
least one of a remote controller, a mouse, a keyboard, a voice
recognition device and a movement recognition device.
[0032] The object may include at least one of a thumbnail and a
shortcut of the first image.
[0033] The displaying the first image may include: displaying
images relating to the subject on the medical display device and
displaying at least one record relating to the first image on the
medical display device.
[0034] The receiving the plurality of images relating to the
subject may include receiving the plurality of images relating to
the subject from at least one of a server, the internet and a
medical device.
[0035] In accordance with another aspect, one or more exemplary
embodiments provide a medical imaging system including: an image
acquisition device which acquires a plurality of images relating to
a subject; and a medical display device which displays a first
image which includes an indication relating to a pathological
entity from among the plurality of images relating to the
subject.
[0036] The medical display device may display an object which
relates to the first image.
[0037] The object may include at least one of a thumbnail and a
shortcut of the first image.
[0038] The medical display device may display the first image in an
enlarged form on the medical display device, when a command
relating to the object is received.
[0039] The command relating to the object may be received via a
touch of the object displayed on the medical display device.
[0040] The command relating to the object may be received via at
least one of a remote controller, a mouse, a keyboard, a voice
recognition device and a movement recognition device.
[0041] The medical display device may include at least one of a
computer, a smart phone and a tablet personal computer (PC).
[0042] The medical display device may display at least one record
relating to the first image.
[0043] The first image may include an image which includes image
information relating to a lesion.
[0044] The medical imaging system may further include: a server
which stores the acquired plurality of images relating to the
subject and which transfers the stored plurality of images to the
medical display device, wherein the server supports a digital
imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) protocol.
[0045] The image acquisition device may acquire three-dimensional
images relating to the subject.
[0046] Each of the image acquisition device and the medical display
device may support a DICOM protocol.
[0047] According to an aspect, medical workers may immediately see
images which include lesions without causing an inefficiency in
which medical workers redundantly interpret the images in order to
find lesions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0048] These and/or other aspects of the present disclosure will
become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings of which:
[0049] FIGS. 1 and 2 are views which illustrate a configuration of
a medical imaging system according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0050] FIG. 3 is a view which illustrates a frame of the DICOM
protocol format;
[0051] FIG. 4 is a view which illustrates a configuration of a
terminal according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0052] FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are views which illustrate respective
states in which medical images are displayed on a terminal of a
medical imaging system according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0053] FIGS. 8 and 9 are views which illustrate respective states
in which images are displayed in enlarged forms on the terminal of
the medical imaging system according to an exemplary embodiment;
and
[0054] FIG. 10 is a flowchart which illustrates a method for
displaying a medical image according to an exemplary
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0055] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0056] FIGS. 1 and 2 are views which illustrate a configuration of
a medical imaging system according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 1, the medical imaging system includes an
image acquisition device 1 which acquires an image relating to a
subject, a server 2 which receives the acquired image from the
image acquisition device 1 and stores the received image in a
medical display device 3, and the medical display device 3 which
receives the image relating to the subject from the server 2 and
displays the image.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 2, the image acquisition device 1 acquires
three-dimensional images relating to subjects to be imaged, and may
include, for example, a MRI device, a CT device, an X-ray device,
and/or an ultrasound device or the like.
[0059] The image acquisition device 1 transfers three-dimensional
images relating to the subject which are acquired by executing
functions of respective devices to the server 2.
[0060] Subject image data which is transferred in the medical
imaging system, including subject three-dimensional image data
transferred from the image acquisition device 1 to the server 2,
complies with a DICOM protocol format.
[0061] FIG. 3 is a view which illustrates a frame of the DICOM
protocol format.
[0062] DICOM is an application network protocol that facilitates
transfers of medical images, waveforms and other ancillary
information and uses TCP/IP as an underlying transfer protocol.
[0063] A DICOM file includes a header and a data region. Various
types of information which are required for DICOM file format, such
as, for example, patient information, examination type, used
apparatus, data size, diagnosis, resolution, number of color bits,
play speed of images, communication information and encoding
information, are stored in the header, and images and/or image data
are stored in the data region.
[0064] The DICOM image file includes a single frame when the number
of images stored in the data region is equal to one, and the DICOM
image file includes a plurality of frames when the number of images
is greater than or equal to two.
[0065] The server 2 stores three-dimensional image data relating to
the subject, which has been transferred from the image acquisition
device 1. The server 2 classifies transferred images based on
predetermined classification criteria and stores the same.
[0066] Further, the server 2 transmits three-dimensional image data
relating to the subject to the corresponding medical display device
3 based on a request received from the medical display device 3 in
order to facilitate interpretation of the medical images.
Transmission of data complies with the DICOM protocol format.
[0067] The medical display device 3 includes a terminal which
displays one or more three-dimensional images relating to the
subject, which images have been acquired by the image acquisition
device 1, and the medical display device 3 receives one or more
diagnosis records which relate to the acquired images. Generally,
the diagnosis records have been created by medical workers, and the
medical workers may perform a diagnosis by using the image
displayed by the medical display device 3.
[0068] The medical display device 3 may include, for example, a
personal computer (PC), or a portable smart phone, or a tablet PC.
Any medical device is included within the scope of the present
disclosure, provided that the medical device includes a program for
displaying a file complying with a DICOM format and includes a
display device which displays images.
[0069] As described above, the medical display device receives
three-dimensional image data relating to a subject via the server,
but, referring also to FIG. 4, the medical display device 3 may
receive medical images from a server of the medical imaging system
and/or from an internet 14 or other computer or another medical
device 3, and display the medical images.
[0070] FIG. 4 is a view which illustrates a configuration of the
medical display device 3 according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0071] The medical display device 3 includes a communication device
21 that communicates with a server, an input device 22 which
provides an interface for user operation of the medical display
device 3, a controller 23 which controls the medical display device
3 based on commands received via the input device 22, and a display
device 4 which displays medical images and diagnosis records and
the like.
[0072] The communication device 21 receives images relating to
subjects, and/or various information associated with a diagnosis
performed by one or more medical workers, from the server 2, and
transfers information which is modified or manipulated by the
medical display device 3 to the server 2 in order to update less
current information. The communication between the communication
device 21 and the server 2 may be executed by using any or all
communication methodologies, including wired and wireless
methodologies.
[0073] Further, as described above, images relating to a subject,
or various information which may be relevant to a diagnosis to be
performed by one or more medical workers may be received via
communication with the server of the medical imaging system and/or
the internet 14, another computer, or another medical device 3.
[0074] The input device 22 provides an interface which enables a
user, such as, for example, a medical worker, who uses the medical
device 3, to manipulate the medical device 3, and may include, for
example, at least one of a remote controller, a mouse, a keyboard,
a voice recognition device, a movement recognition device, and/or
any other device which is suitable for receiving input from a user.
The medical worker freely manipulates the medical device 3 by using
inherent functions of respective devices, including input device
22.
[0075] When the display device 4 includes a touchscreen, functions
of the medical device 3 may be manipulated by directly touching
respective icons which are displayed on the display device 4. In
particular, the display device 4 may function as the input device
22, in addition to performing the information display function.
[0076] The controller 23 controls operations of the medical device
3 based on information received via the communication device 21 and
exterior commands received via the input device 22 and/or the
display device 4. The controller 23 controls the display device 4
to display medical images, diagnosis records and the like, stores
modified or updated medical images or diagnosis records, and
transfers the stored information via the communication device 21 to
the server 2 in order to store the same in the server 2.
[0077] The display of medical images by the display device 4 will
be described below with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 in
more detail.
[0078] In an exemplary embodiment, when a doctor who first
interprets medical images (hereinafter, referred to as "first
doctor") finds a lesion, interpretation records are entered via the
medical device 3, and transferred to and stored in the server 2.
When a particular medical image is a three-dimensional image, a
corresponding amount of data relating to the particular medical
image is great, and therefore, a considerable amount of time may be
required in order to find lesions.
[0079] Conventional medical systems typically include various
departments which are compartmentalized in order to efficiently and
expertly treat diseases. The corresponding departments treat only
diseases professionally handled thereby in order to provide
specialized medical services to patients.
[0080] Accordingly, when abnormal unusual images which include at
least one indication relating to a pathological entity, such as,
for example, a lesion, are found as a result of interpretation of
medical images by the first doctor, the patients are diagnosed and
treated in detail in the department that specially treats the
corresponding lesion.
[0081] After patient information and medical images are transferred
to other departments, medical images are often redundantly
interpreted anew by medical workers of the receiving department.
When a particular medical image is transferred to the medical
device 3 of the corresponding department and is displayed thereby,
the diagnosis records made by the first doctor which relate to the
particular medical image are accessible in conjunction with the
particular medical image.
[0082] In particular, when the first doctor records abnormal
unusual images and/or one or more lesions found in a patient as a
result of interpretation of the images, subsequent medical workers
see records relating to such lesions.
[0083] However, the subsequent medical workers see only opinions
and records created by the first doctor which are associated with
the one or more lesions, and it is thus necessary that an
independent interpretation of the corresponding images is performed
by at least one subsequent medical worker, similarly as performed
by the first doctor, in order to check whether abnormal unusual
states or lesions are present in three-dimensional images showing
the body of the patient.
[0084] In a conventional hospital or health care facility, whenever
records of particular patients are transferred to other departments
or other medical workers, inefficiently, medical workers of the
corresponding departments redundantly interpret three-dimensional
images showing the body sites of the particular patients again.
[0085] Such an inefficiency may lead to a reduction in a number of
patients that receive medical service, and consequently, a longer
time is required for medical workers in order to perform diagnoses
with respect to more patients. Thus, there is a demand for
improvement.
[0086] Accordingly, in one exemplary embodiment, a plurality of
images 5 relating to subjects are displayed on a medical device 3,
and objects 6 and 7 which relate to a particular image 9 which
includes an indication relating to a pathological entity, such as,
for example, a lesion, from among the plurality of images 5
relating to the subject, are displayed by medical workers, to solve
the aforementioned problems.
[0087] When the medical worker clicks or touches one or both of the
objects 6 and 7 displayed by the display device 4 of the medical
device 3, immediately, the image 9 which includes an indication
relating to a pathological entity is displayed in accordance with
the image interpretation result which is determined by one or more
of the previous medical workers.
[0088] Accordingly, as described above, it is possible to eliminate
an inefficiency relating to a redundant image interpretation which
often occurs whenever records of patients are transferred to other
departments or other medical workers.
[0089] Hereinafter, selected exemplary embodiments will be
described with reference to the drawings in more detail.
[0090] FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are views which illustrate a process for
displaying a medical image on a medical device 3 of a medical
imaging system according to one exemplary embodiment, and FIGS. 8
and 9 are views which illustrate a state in which enlarged images
which include respective indications relating to respective
pathological entities are displayed on the medical device 3 of the
medical imaging system according to one exemplary embodiment.
[0091] First, an image 5 relating to a subject, which image has
been acquired by using an image acquisition device 1, is displayed
on a display device 4 of a medical device 3.
[0092] The image 5 may be displayed as a three-dimensional image,
or two-dimensional images constituting the three-dimensional image
may be arrayed and displayed. A mode in which the image 5 is
displayed may be selected by a user.
[0093] Further, the image 5 relating to the subject, and objects 6
and 7 which relate to the image 9 which includes an indication
relating to a pathological entity, as determined by one or more
medical workers, are displayed on the display device 4 of the
medical device 3.
[0094] The image which includes an indication relating to a
pathological entity may be an image that is considered to show a
lesion therein or include an abnormal or unusual image, as a result
of a corresponding image interpretation result which is determined
by one or more medical workers. In particular, the term "lesion"
refers to a pathological change of a human body, and includes
diseases and other abnormalities.
[0095] The objects 6 and 7 may include a thumbnail 6 of the image 9
that is considered to have an indication relating to a lesion
therein or to include an abnormal or unusual image, or a shortcut 7
to the image 9 that is considered to have an indication relating to
a lesion therein or to include an abnormal or unusual image.
[0096] FIG. 5 is a view which illustrates a state in which a
thumbnail 6 of the image 9 that is considered to have an indication
relating to a pathological entity, such as a lesion, therein, or to
include an abnormal or unusual image is displayed, as an example of
the object, FIG. 6 is a view which illustrates a state in which a
shortcut 7 to the image 9 that is considered to have the indication
relating to the pathological entity therein or to include an
abnormal or unusual image is displayed, as an example of the
object, and FIG. 7 is a view which illustrates a state in which the
thumbnail 6 is displayed in conjunction with the shortcut 7, as an
example of the object. There is no limitation as to the format of
the objects 6 and 7 which relate to the image 9 that is considered
to have the indication relating to the pathological entity therein
or to include an abnormal or unusual image. The objects 6 and 7
preferably include a thumbnail 6 which is easily objectively seen
by a user.
[0097] When a user's command is provided with respect to at least
one of objects 6 and 7 displayed on the medical device 3, the image
9 that is considered to have the indication relating to the
pathological entity and which relates to the objects 6 and 7 is
displayed in an enlarged form.
[0098] In particular, referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, in a case in
which the display device 4 of the medical device 3 adopts a touch
screen, when medical workers touch at least one of the objects 6
and 7 displayed on the medical device 3, the image 9 that is
considered to have the indication relating to the pathological
entity and which relates to the objects 6 and 7 is displayed in an
enlarged form on the display device 4, as illustrated in each of
FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0099] Alternatively, when at least one of the objects 6 and 7 is
clicked or selected by using an input device 22 which includes at
least one of a remote controller, a mouse, a keyboard, a voice
recognition device and a movement recognition device, the image 9
that is considered to have the indication relating to the
pathological entity and which relates to the objects 6 and 7 is
displayed in an enlarged form on the display device 4, as
illustrated in each of FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0100] As shown in FIG. 8, the image 9 that is considered to
include the indication relating to the pathological entity may be
displayed together with the image 5 relating to the subject, such
that the image 9 and the image 5 are divided on a screen of the
display device 4, and as shown in FIG. 9, the image 9 may be
displayed in an enlarged form on an entirety of the screen of the
display device 4. A mode of display of the image 9 may be selected
and varied by the user.
[0101] After a previous medical worker has generated records
relating to a lesion, and selects and records an image which shows
the lesion, when the next medical worker retrieves and displays the
corresponding image on the medical device 3, the objects 6 and 7
which relate to the image 9 that is considered to include the
indication relating to the lesion are displayed on the medical
device 3, and the next medical worker immediately sees the image
which shows the lesion by touching or clicking at least one of the
objects 6 and 7, thereby precluding the inefficiency of redundantly
interpreting or reviewing images anew in order to find the
lesion.
[0102] Further, records 8 which relate to the lesion, which records
have been generated by medical workers, are displayed on the
display device 4 of the medical device 3. The records 8 relating to
the lesion may include an opinion of one or more medical workers,
possibly including names of diseases.
[0103] FIG. 10 is a flowchart which illustrates a method for
displaying a medical image according to one exemplary
embodiment.
[0104] Referring to FIG. 10, in operation 10, an interpretation
result for an image relating to a subject is stored in a server
2.
[0105] When a medical worker interprets the image relating to the
subject and records the interpretation result, that is, generates
diagnosis records and the image 9 that is considered to have an
indication relating to a pathological entity, such as a lesion,
therein or to include an abnormal or unusual image, the information
generated by the medical worker is transferred as data having a
DICOM data format from the medical device 3 to the server 2 and
stored in the server 2.
[0106] In operation 11, when the image relating to the subject is
requested from the medical device 3, the server 2 transfers image
information relating to the subject to the corresponding medical
device 3.
[0107] The information transferred to the medical device 3 is
transferred as data having a DICOM format, and the information
includes the image relating to the subject and the interpretation
results associated therewith.
[0108] In operation 12, when the image information relating to the
subject is transferred from the server 2, the medical device 3
displays, on the display device 4, the image 5 relating to the
subject, at least one of objects 6 and 7 which relate to the image
9 that is considered to have the indication relating to the
pathological entity, such as a lesion, therein or to include an
abnormal or unusual image, and records 8 relating to the
lesion.
[0109] The image relating to the subject may be displayed as a
three-dimensional image, or two-dimensional images constituting
respective cross-sections of the three-dimensional image may be
displayed in an array. The display mode may be selected by a
user.
[0110] Further, the image 5 relating to the subject and the at
least one of the objects 6 and 7 which relate to the image 9 which
includes the indication relating to the pathological entity are
displayed on the display device 4 of the medical device 3.
[0111] The objects 6 and 7 may include a thumbnail 6 of the image 9
which includes the indication relating to the pathological entity
and/or a shortcut 7 to the image 9. One or both of the thumbnail 6
and the shortcut 7 are displayed on the display device 4. There is
no limitation as to the forms of the objects 6 and 7 which relate
to the image 9. The objects 6 and 7 preferably include a thumbnail
6.
[0112] Further, records 8 which relate to the lesion and which are
generated by medical workers are displayed on the display device 4
of the medical device 3. The records 8 which relate to the lesion
may include an opinion of one or more medical workers, possibly
including names of diseases.
[0113] In operation 13, the medical device 3 displays the image 9
which includes the indication relating to the pathological entity
and which relates to the objects 6 and 7, when a user command
relating to at least one of the displayed objects 6 and 7 is
received.
[0114] In a case in which the display device 4 of the medical
device 3 includes a touch screen, when one or more medical workers
touch at least one of objects 6 and 7 which is displayed on the
medical device 3, the image 9 which includes the indication
relating to the pathological entity and which relates to the
objects 6 and 7 is displayed in an enlarged form on the display
device 4.
[0115] Alternatively, when at least one of the objects 6 and 7 is
clicked or selected by using an input device 22 which includes at
least one of a remote controller, a mouse, a keyboard, a voice
recognition device and a movement recognition device, the image 9
which includes the indication relating to the pathological entity
and which relates to the objects 6 and 7 is displayed in an
enlarged form on the display device 4.
[0116] After a previous medical worker has generated one or more
records relating to a lesion, and selects and records an image
which shows the lesion, when a subsequent medical worker retrieves
and displays the corresponding image on the medical device 3, at
least one of the objects 6 and 7 which relate to the image 9 which
includes the lesion is displayed on the medical device 3, and the
subsequent medical worker immediately sees the image 9 by touching
or clicking the at least one of the objects 6 and 7, thereby
avoiding the inefficiency of redundantly interpreting or reviewing
images anew in order to find the lesion.
[0117] Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and
described, it shall be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure,
the scope of which is defined in the claims and their
equivalents.
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